About Jamie

Who is Jamie Wall

I am Jamie Wall. I am a footballer and a hurler. I am also a wheelchair user.

I was born on the 21st of July 1992, in Our Lady of Lourdes hospital, Drogheda, Co. Louth and since I was old enough to walk, I was old enough to play. I played my first football match in Oristown Co. Meath aged 4 for my local naíonra vs. The local junior infant class. I got the bug early on.

I was brought up on a diet of Manchester United, Meath football, and later, Cork GAA. As a 5 year old I dreamt of being Gary Neville one day, Colm Coyle the next.
On the 4th of July 2010 I won my first Munster championship. On the 9th of August 2014, I watched from a wheelchair as my teammates won my first All Ireland.

On the 28th of June, 2014, I should have captained my club, Kilbrittain, in the second round of the cork Premier Intermediate hurling championship. Instead, I was rushed to hospital with an epidural abscess on my spine, which had, and has since rendered me paralysed from the midriff down.

Since then I have engaged in rehabilitative therapies, first in Beaumont hospital, and then the NRH in Dún Laoghaire. I have spent almost 8 months in hospital.

Today I am a free man, as such. There is a wonderful life to be led, from the chair or on foot. One I intend to lead. But I also want more. I’ve got a new bug. Something new lights my fire today. I am young, I am fit, and I am willing.

I want to pursue further recovery from spinal injury. Last year I took part in Mark Pollock’s 5 & 10k race, the run in the dark. This year, I want to join the group of people who want to be part of a different race. The race for the cure.

The most important piece of advice I was ever given came in the form of simple mantra;